A radically new account of the changing relationship between lords and peasants in England which challenges many recieved ideas about the origins of the manor', the status of the Anglo-Saxon peasantry, the twelfth century economy and the origins of villeinage. The book covers the period from the end of the Roman Empire right through until the late twelfth century. This long time span enables Faith to examine changing patterns and also the post-Conquest continuity of developments which originated in the Anglo-Saxon period. The book draws on a wide range of source material including archaeology and landscape studies as well as documents and a clear distinction emerges between the very dependant tennts of inland' estates and the much greater independance of those who worked the warland'.